Bittersweet

The Wedding Cake

Hermione nestled her head into Ron's shoulder happily as she danced with him. She wore the pale yellow bridesmaid's dress, with the blue sash tied around her waist. She looked over to the married couple, smiling at them. Luna and Rolf looked gorgeous together. Luna had her hair in a braided bun, curls framing her face, minimal makeup on her face, and wore a bright yellow dress. Rolf looked at her so lovingly, his navy dress robes looking very sharp.

Ron noticed that Hermione was looking at them, and smiled down at her. "Heh...It's nice that Loony found love."

Hermione gave him a not-so-light smack to the shoulder, as well as a half-hearted reproachful look. "Ronald, don't call her that, especially on her wedding day!"

Ron whined at the blow to his shoulder, rolling it slightly. "Sorry, 'Mione," he said.

Hermione shook her head at him before giving him a sweet peck on the lips. Ever since the Battle of Hogwarts, she and Ron had been a serious item. It was a very comfortable relationship, and a very stable one. Exactly what Hermione needed. Especially after all that had happened.

So far, Ron Weasley had proven a very stable boyfriend: they were going on five years strong now. He was affectionate, knew how to cheer her up, how to make her laugh, and he took her out on fun dates. When she had the time, that is. She was a busy woman, after all. Miss Hermione Granger was working her way up to the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Her work in eradicating laws set in place against muggleborns had quickly become reknowned.

It seemed that everything had been looking up. Yes, she still got nightmares about the torturing at Malfoy Manor. Yes, she still found herself having panic attacks, though they were far less frequent. She personally didn't think that they would ever go away. But that was fine with her. She had Ron, Harry, Ginny, and Luna. She had the Weasley family. Everything would be okay.

Suddenly, Hermione felt a rapid, aggressive tapping on her shoulder. She looked down to see her boyfriend's little sister, and one of her best friends.

"Oh, hello Ginny! What's going on?" she asked, grinning.

Ginny, the maid of honor, looked a bit frazzled. "Hermione? Could you do me a favor? I need someone to run to the kitchen for me to check that the last minute touches to the cake are ready. I'd do it myself, but, ah..."

Ginny gestured over to a corner of the reception tent. Harry looked a little tousled, with some of Ginny's lipstick smeared on his face. Ron gave a grimace while Hermione laughed.

"Go back to your husband, Gin. I'll cover for you."

Ginny gave a grateful smile, before rushing off to her husband. Ron gagged, Hermione smiled. She kissed his cheek.

"I'll be right back, love."

Hermione made her way into the kitchen of Luna and Rolf's house, which seemed very oddly cobbled together, yet had its own charm to it. The kitchen was cozy,  and had an island counter top in the center of it. Perched on it was a very large cake. Three tiers, and beautifully frosted. There were animals and other creatures formed out of modeling chocolate on it, and two very gorgeous figures of Luna and Rolf on the top. Hermione could see a couple pale hands from behind the cake.

"Wow... This cake is beautiful!" She said as she walked around the island to look at the creator of the cake.

She froze in her tracks.

The first thing she saw was the Dark Mark. It was paler, as if the man had tried to conceal it with makeup. Then she saw the storm grey eyes. The white blonde hair. His eyes seemed a bit shocked to see her, and he was tense. He looked almost... afraid.

"....Malfoy?" I manage to get out, forcing my mind from transporting me back to the Manor. Not now.

Draco Malfoy took a breath, before saying, "Ginny sent you to check on the cake?"

Speechless, Hermione nodded.

"Well, it's done now," he said, his voice a bit soft. "I'll leave now. I know where I'm not welcome."

Malfoy began to pack his cake decorating supplies. Before he finished, Hermione found her voice.

"Baking, Malfoy?"

He stared at her for a few moments. Hermione's gaze held his for what seemed like centuries.

"It helps me with the nightmares. The panic attacks," he said bluntly. "Believe it or not, I didn't have it easy during the war either."

Hermione's eyes were wide at this confession. 

Before she could ask further questions, Malfoy had packed his supplies, and disapparated. Leaving her with the delicately crafted cake.

***

"Ginny, why didn't you tell me Malfoy was making the cake?"

Ginny shrugged. "Luna hired him for a reason. He's very talented at what he does."

"And you trusted him to prepare food for us without poisoning it?" she pressed, quirking up a brow.

Ginny nodded, and replied, "Yes, I do. I mean, it's his job now. He's a very reputable baker, now. I know it's super weird, but if he has changed, I won't complain. We need more good people, Mione."

Hermione nodded, and took a bite of her slice of cake. It was delicious; a moist cake, marbled with chocolate and ginger spice flavors. The buttercream frosting was incredible. Who knew that Malfoy could be good at baking? Hermione would have thought that someone who had acted so evil would not bother with simple, innocent things such as baking.

Hermione thought more about all of this as she undid her hair, showered, brushed her teeth, and laid down on her bed. Perhaps her judgement on Malfoy was too harsh. Perhaps there was just a little more to this snake than she had thought.

Hermione sighed, and rolled to her side. She brushed these ponderings from her head for now. Her eyes closed, and she let her thoughts wander and brain shut down. Finally, Hermione drifted off to sleep.

~~~~~~
Word Count: 1016